Loading...
09/10/2018 - Minutes 1 City of Port Orchard Economic Development and Tourism Committee Meeting Minutes Monday, September 10, 2018 Committee Members Present: Council Members Bek Ashby (Chair), Scott Diener, Jay Rosapepe City Officials and Staff: Mayor Rob Putaansuu, Community Development Director Nick Bond, City Clerk Brandy Rinearson, Long Range Planner Keri Sallee Guests: Chris Piercy, Kitsap County Solid Waste Department; Matt Murphy, Port Orchard Chamber of Commerce; Jack Edwards, Days Inn; Paisley Gallagher, Kitsap Harvest; Fran Olin, citizen. The meeting was called to order by Chair Ashby at 9:34 a.m. 1. Presentation: Chris Piercy, Recycling Coordinator, Kitsap County Solid Waste – Plastic Bag Ban. Mr. Piercy has been tasked by Kitsap County with bringing together the Kitsap local governments to adopt a ban on thin grocery-type plastic bags for retail customers. A number of counties and cities have already adopted similar bans, including Bainbridge Island. The County has provided an informational packet with a model ordinance, and hopes that all of the cities will eventually be on board, since it would difficult to implement an effective ban without their full participation. The town hall held by Port Orchard in May in was a good first step to involve the public and increase awareness of the issue. Council Member Rosapepe asked why the County proposes to delay implementation of the ban until January 2020. Piercy said that the long time frame is intended to give plenty of time for all the local governments to agree on participation, to provide ample time for public outreach and awareness efforts, and to give merchants sufficient time to change their bagging practices and use up inventory. The County will take the lead on preparing outreach and implementation materials, and will share these resources with the cities. Piercy may have additional information to share with the Committee at the October meeting. 2. Discussion: Plastic Bag Ban. Mayor Putaansuu said that he and Council Member Diener attended a meeting with the County Commissioners and the City of Bremerton to discuss recently-proposed changes to the model ordinance, including regulation of bag colors (to avoid confusion between compostable/non-compostable bags), and the proposed five-cent surcharge for plastic bags provided by retail establishments. Piercy said that the County is working to resolve the concerns of food banks, which rely on donations of plastic bags to package groceries for their clientele. Diener said that he supports an ordinance exemption for food service bags from restaurants and catering trucks, where plastic can help prevent spills and leakage. Chair Ashby asked for more clarity on what qualifies as a reusable bag. Putaansuu said that Port Orchard’s timeline for ordinance adoption is probably three to six months, and may include a phase-in period. Mr. Murphy recommended against the five-cent surcharge, at least in the beginning when people are still trying to remember to bring reusable bags, because the general public would likely see this as a government imposition to take their money for the financial benefit of the City, even though that isn’t true. Diener and Ashby agreed that a reporting requirement for retail establishments (i.e., the number of non-reusable bags provided over a set time period) would probably not be required for Port Orchard. Putaansuu said that the plastic bag ban would probably go to the January 2019 work-study meeting for full Council discussion. He said that an online survey is being prepared to ask the public for their opinions on the proposed ban. 3. Discussion: LTAC Schedule. City Clerk Rinearson said that the LTAC will meet in the third or fourth week of September, to finalize the schedule for meetings with grant applicants, and to hear their presentations. The 2 LTAC recommendations on the grant applications are required to be brought to the Council by October 9. Council action must be taken by October 23. Rinearson said that eight applications have been received for a total of $137,111; LTAC has $100,000 to distribute. 4. Discussion: KEDA “Destination Port Orchard” Video. Rinearson played the “Destination Port Orchard” video that is currently available on YouTube. Putaansuu said that the video needed to be condensed, updated with the City’s more recent community assets (such as McCormick Village Park and the shoreline pedestrian pathway), and include mentions of other recent and upcoming development projects. Ashby said that the video should rely less on individual well-known personalities, such as Debbie Macomber. Putaansuu would like to bring a contract to Council in October for a consultant to prepare these revisions, and asked the Committee members to provide him with any comments or requests for changes. 5. Discussion: Sedgwick Multifamily Project. Putaansuu said that a developer recently had a preapplication meeting with the City for a mixed-use project, including 120-140 apartments, on Sedgwick Rd next to Fred Meyer. This project would require significant transportation improvements, which could include a roundabout at Converse Ave, a turn lane into the complex, and a divided median on Sedgwick for turns/merging, in addition to payment of the City’s standard traffic impact fees. The developer has indicated that the likely cost of these transportation improvements ($2-$2.5 million) would cause the project to be nonviable unless some kind of tax abatement or other relief can be provided. The Finance Department has provided a calculation of the potential tax relief (up to $2.7 million) that could be achieved if the developer provides some affordable housing and complies with the requirements of the City’s multifamily property tax exemption program in POMC 3.48. A developer’s agreement would be necessary for them to use this program, since the site is not within the multifamily property tax exemption areas designated by the City Council. The agreement could include a “no protest” requirement for any future annexation effort in this area. Concurrence from WSDOT on any proposed road improvements on Sedgwick would also be required. Ashby noted that once the fast ferry begins operating from Southworth, there will likely be more traffic on Sedgwick and also more demand for housing in that corridor. The City should encourage affordable housing to be equally distributed throughout the community, including designated local centers. Ashby would also like to see more ownership options for affordable housing in addition to apartment rentals. Putaansuu said that more information from the developer on the size and value of the commercial component of the development, and from WSDOT, will be necessary before bringing a proposal to a Council work-study meeting. Next Meeting: The next meeting will be on October 8, 2018, at 9:30 am in the Council Chambers.